Small Form-factor Pluggable

Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) is a compact, <a href="/facts/Hot-pluggable/Jn56Jw3h">hot-pluggable</a> network interface module format used for both <a href="/facts/Telecommunication/vxoj1cxR">telecommunication</a> and <a href="/facts/Data_communications/1yAhaANd">data communications</a> applications. An SFP interface on <a href="/facts/Networking_hardware/ck0rIkXA">networking hardware</a> is a modular slot for a media-specific <a href="/facts/Transceiver/S6HSzRPf">transceiver</a>, such as for a <a href="/facts/Fiber-optic_cable/1kD3lpot">fiber-optic cable</a> or a copper cable. The advantage of using SFPs compared to fixed interfaces (e.g. <a href="/facts/Modular_connector/M3BYRSFV">modular connectors</a> in <a href="/facts/Ethernet_switches/CnvmhNYT">Ethernet switches</a>) is that individual ports can be equipped with different types of transceivers as required, with the majority including <a href="/facts/Optical_line_terminal/JFP33edf">optical line terminals</a>, <a href="/facts/Network_card/wyf5FR29">network cards</a>, <a href="/facts/Network_Switch/CnvmhNYT">switches</a> and <a href="/facts/Router_(computing)/Nh5cIyVf">routers</a>.
The <a href="/facts/Form_factor_(design)/pbWg5yAR">form factor</a> and electrical interface are specified by a <a href="/facts/Multi-source_agreement/W5oBIfzI">multi-source agreement</a> (MSA) under the auspices of the <a href="/facts/Small_Form_Factor_Committee/3PtrvgQA">Small Form Factor Committee</a>. The SFP replaced the larger <a href="/facts/Gigabit_interface_converter/x4oAvlDA">gigabit interface converter</a> (GBIC) in most applications, and has been referred to as a Mini-GBIC by some vendors.
SFP transceivers exist supporting <a href="/facts/Synchronous_optical_networking/G3LgtGS6">synchronous optical networking</a> (SONET), <a href="/facts/Gigabit_Ethernet/1ItIoV2w">Gigabit Ethernet</a>, <a href="/facts/Fibre_Channel/C7C0yreb">Fibre Channel</a>, <a href="/facts/Passive_optical_network/1E3x5V96">PON</a>, and other communications standards. At introduction, typical speeds were 1 Gbit/s for Ethernet SFPs and up to 4 Gbit/s for Fibre Channel SFP modules. In 2006, SFP+ specification brought speeds up to 10 Gbit/s and the later SFP28 iteration, introduced in 2014, is designed for speeds of 25 Gbit/s.
A slightly larger sibling is the four-lane Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP). The additional lanes allow for speeds 4 times their corresponding SFP. In 2014, the QSFP28 variant was published allowing speeds up to 100 Gbit/s. In 2019, the closely related QSFP56 was standardized doubling the top speeds to 200 Gbit/s with products already selling from major vendors. There are inexpensive adapters allowing SFP transceivers to be placed in a QSFP port.
Both a SFP-DD, which allows for 100 Gbit/s over two lanes, as well as a QSFP-DD specifications, which allows for 400 Gbit/s over eight lanes, have been published. These use a <a href="/facts/Form_factor_(design)/pbWg5yAR">form factor</a> which is directly <a href="/facts/Backward_compatibility/FbHFBu5y">backward compatible</a> to their respective predecessors.
An even larger sibling, the Octal Small Format Pluggable (OSFP), had products released in 2022 capable of 800 Gbit/s links between network equipment. It is a slightly larger version than the QSFP form factor allowing for larger power outputs. The OSFP standard was initially announced in 2016 with the 4.0 version released in 2021 allowing for 800 Gbit/s via 8×100 Gbit/s electrical data lanes. Its proponents say a low-cost adapter will allow for backwards compatibility with QSFP modules.

Small Form-factor Pluggable open-in-new

Small Form-factor Pluggable